Exeter Wild City

Exeter Wild City

A partnership between Devon Wildlife Trust and Exeter City Council

Working closely with Exeter City Council, the Exeter Wild City project aims to:

Support and advise on community wildlife initiatives in the city

Enhance and protect the wildlife value of green space in the city

Provide opportunities for people to experience and enjoy our amazing urban wildlife

Exeter Wild City

Why do we need it?

Exeter is striking proof that cities can be the homes to abundant wildlife. But, as everywhere, wildlife is under threat. The city now has a human population of 120,000 – and it’s growing. We want to ensure that Exeter‘s future development will protect its wildlife and gives it space to thrive.

Contact with nature and wildlife is also hugely important for people; quite simply, contact with our natural environment makes us happy! The project works with people across the city on projects that are great for wildlife and, importantly, improve our quality of life too.

Who else are we working with?

We have links with a growing list of public, statutory, voluntary and community organisations including Met Office and University of Exeter.We work with almost every school in the city and are keen to support community associations.

Exeter’s swifts

The first sightings of swifts each year, usually in early May, are a cause for celebration, signifying the coming of summer.

Exeter residents have been helping our city swifts by installing swift boxes and submitting nest sightings to help create a hotspot map for the city.

Working together with Exeter City Council and the RSPB, Exeter now has a nationally acclaimed Residential Design Guide which provides information on including nesting spaces within new build. The city is also one of the first in England to install a swift tower!

Natural learning

DWT’s education team is working in Exeter to stimulate young people to better understand the value of biodiversity and to help make their schools more sustainable. Visit our education section for more information.

We work with community groups, schools and Exeter City Council to sow wildflowers around the city each year. Meadows in parks, school grounds, along roadsides, within business landscapes and on roundabouts are helping our important urban pollinators and create more attractive public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Get involved!

Why not get involved and join our Facebook group today and help build the Exeter Wild City community!

View panoramic photos of Exeter from the top of the Exeter Cathedral and the John Lewis building here

Support our work

The vital work we do for nature depends on the support of people who care about the future of Devon’s wildlife and wild places.